Faculty Collaboration Database

Transplant surgery departmental leaders do not represent workforce demographics especially among women and underrepresented minorities - A retrospective analysis. Am J Surg 2022 Jul;224(1 Pt A):153-159

Date

11/23/2021

Pubmed ID

34802691

DOI

10.1016/j.amjsurg.2021.11.008

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85119397575 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   15 Citations

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The diversity among surgical directors for liver, kidney, and pancreas transplant departments has not been previously evaluated. We aim to quantify the sex and racial demographics of transplant department leaders and assess the impact on patient outcomes.

METHODS: Demographics were collected for 116 liver, 192 kidney, and 113 pancreas transplant directors using Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) directory and program websites. Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) 5-tier program outcomes rankings were obtained for each program and matched to leader demographics. A retrospective analysis of transplant recipients from 2010 to 2019 was performed using the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database.

RESULTS: 91.5% of transplant surgical directors were male. 55% of departments had a Non-Hispanic White leader. Asian, Hispanic and Black transplant chiefs were at the helm of 23.3%, 9%, and 5% of divisions respectively. Multivariate cox regression analysis did not identify any differences in patient outcomes by transplant director demographics.

CONCLUSION: There is a paucity of female and URM leaders in transplant surgery. Initiatives to promote research, mentorship, and career advancement opportunities for women and URM are necessary to address the current leadership disparity.

Author List

Choubey AP, Bullock B, Choubey AS, Pai K, Ortiz AC, Khan SA, Mishra A, James R, Koizumi N, Pearson T, Ortiz J

Author

Terra Pearson MD, PhD Assistant Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Demography
Female
Humans
Male
Pancreas Transplantation
Retrospective Studies
Tissue and Organ Procurement
United States